freeCodeCamp/curriculum/challenges/english/02-javascript-algorithms-and-data-structures/basic-javascript/manipulate-arrays-with-shift.md

---
id: 56bbb991ad1ed5201cd392cd
title: Manipulate Arrays With shift()
challengeType: 1
videoUrl: 'https://scrimba.com/c/cRbVETW'
forumTopicId: 18238
dashedName: manipulate-arrays-with-shift
---

# --description--

`pop()` always removes the last element of an array. What if you want to remove the first?

That's where `.shift()` comes in. It works just like `.pop()`, except it removes the first element instead of the last.

Example:

```js
var ourArray = ["Stimpson", "J", ["cat"]];
var removedFromOurArray = ourArray.shift();
// removedFromOurArray now equals "Stimpson" and ourArray now equals ["J", ["cat"]].
```

# --instructions--

Use the `.shift()` function to remove the first item from `myArray`, assigning the "shifted off" value to `removedFromMyArray`.

# --hints--

`myArray` should now equal `[["dog", 3]]`.

```js
assert(
  (function (d) {
    if (d[0][0] == 'dog' && d[0][1] === 3 && d[1] == undefined) {
      return true;
    } else {
      return false;
    }
  })(myArray)
);
```

`removedFromMyArray` should contain `["John", 23]`.

```js
assert(
  (function (d) {
    if (
      d[0] == 'John' &&
      d[1] === 23 &&
      typeof removedFromMyArray === 'object'
    ) {
      return true;
    } else {
      return false;
    }
  })(removedFromMyArray)
);
```

# --seed--

## --after-user-code--

```js
(function(y, z){return 'myArray = ' + JSON.stringify(y) + ' & removedFromMyArray = ' + JSON.stringify(z);})(myArray, removedFromMyArray);
```

## --seed-contents--

```js
// Setup
var myArray = [["John", 23], ["dog", 3]];

// Only change code below this line
var removedFromMyArray;
```

# --solutions--

```js
var myArray = [["John", 23], ["dog", 3]];

// Only change code below this line
var removedFromMyArray = myArray.shift();
```